HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Turner's hot hand caps off P.K. Yonge's big week

P.K. Yonge's Van Turner (23) drives to the basket against St. Francis defender Ryan McCloskey on Tuesday at St. Francis.

Brad McClenny/Staff photographer

By John BootheCorrespondent

Published: Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 21, 2013 at 12:05 a.m.

When P.K. Yonge needed to draw up a final play against district rival St. Francis last Tuesday, Blue Wave coach Jeff Myers was not looking to get the ball in Van Turner's hands.

Down by one point with 26 seconds left in the game, P.K. Yonge needed only a layup, not a long-distance 3-point attempt from its best shooter, to win and pull even at 7-1 with the Wolves atop the District 3-3A standings.

However, as the Blue Wave's designed play fell apart and precious second ticked away, P.K. Yonge's players had a change in plan.

“When they get in trouble, they look for Van,” Myers said.

The quarterback of the Blue Wave's football team this season, Turner scored on the basketball equivalent of a Hail Mary pass with an NBA-range, 25-foot shot that sealed a 68-66 win against St. Francis.

Though Turner began his 21-point performance on a tear with three 3-pointers in the first quarter, he had to wait until the game's final seconds to make another attempt.

“He's a pure shooter and he never loses confidence,” Myers said. “He believes in himself every time. He thinks the next shot he shoots is going to go in no matter what.”

A day later, Turner's cool demeanor was tested in a 52-48 loss to Eastside. Guarded primarily by the Rams' Sir Jackson, who Myers described as one of the best athletes in the county, Turner was held to zero points on 0-for-7 shooting.

“He's also not going to force the issue,” Myers said. “He's going to find his teammates when they're open. … When we played Eastside we had a freshman lead us that game just because it was his time to step up. Van's not a jealous player.”

Turner also showed it's tough to keep a good shooter down for long. In P.K. Yonge's final game of the week on Friday, he responded from his cold-shooting night with a season-high 40 points in a 77-68 home win against Buchholz.

Along with his 9-of-13 shooting performance from the field, Turner bolstered his totals by nailing 17 of 19 attempts from the free-throw line.

“It's the same thing every game. Every team focuses on Van,” Myers said.

“He found ways to get open he scored in transition and he did the stuff you have to do to get open. He had a heck of a game.”

Basketball

JIMMIE TAYLOR III, SUWANNEE: A senior shooting guard, Taylor posted a triple-double in the Bulldogs' 75-57 district win against Wakulla last Thursday with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Two days later in a 59-51 loss to Columbia, he scored 24 points, hauled in 13 rebounds and also dished out 6 assists.

Wrestling

MYCKEL HUTCHINSON, BUCHHOLZ: The sophomore 152-pounder won a city championship in his weight class last Friday with a pin against an Eastside wrestler in his final match. A day later, Hutchinson went 5-0 at the Bobcat Duals to help Buchholz claim its home meet.

Soccer

ARRIC WALI, SANTA FE: In the Raiders' lone game of the week, Wali, a junior striker netted a hat trick to lead Santa Fe to a 4-1 win at Lafayette last Tuesday.

Weightlifting

JESSICA KINSLER, GAINESVILLE: Competing in the 154-pound weight class, Kinsler won Saturday's Keystone Heights Invitational and helped the Hurricanes to a second place overall finish with a 400-pound total, including a 220-pound bench press and 180-pound clean and jerk, in the 15-team meet.

Honorable mention

Basketball

KEVARRIUS HAYES, SUWANNEE: The sophomore center recorded a double-double against Wakulla last Thursday with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 9 blocks. In the Bulldogs' loss to Columbia on Saturday, Hayes had 6 points, 12 rebounds and swatted away 4 shots.

ED PORTER, HAWTHORNE: Porter, a sophomore forward, scored 52 combined points in a pair of district wins last week against Trenton and Hilliard. He also compiled 19 rebounds and 9 blocks in the two games.

NICK CHISHOLM, HAWTHORNE: A senior guard, Chisholm scored 26 points, fueled by 9 3-pointers, in two wins against Hilliard and Trenton last week. Chisholm also hauled in 12 rebounds to help Hawthorne finish undefeated in its district.

SHELBY STOKES, TRENTON: The freshman point guard scored 68 points over a 3-game span last week. The Hornets won against Cedar Key and Chiefland before dropping a game to Hawthorne. Stokes also notched 12 assists, 12 rebounds and 6 steals during that stretch.

Wrestling

DEONTRAE NEAL, BUCHHOLZ: A senior heavyweight, Neal claimed one of Bobcats' four individual titles at the city championship meet last Friday. Neal went 3-1 at the Bobcat Duals on Saturday, losing to a North Marion wrestler ranked No. 1 in the state.

Weightlifting

BREANNA THOMAS, GAINESVILLE: The junior won the 169-pound division at the Keystone Heights Invitational on Saturday with a 175-pound bench press and a 160-pound clean and jerk for a 335-pound total.

Athletes of the week are determined by nominations from area coaches. Coaches are asked to call in (374-5050) every Sunday between 4-7 p.m.

<p>When P.K. Yonge needed to draw up a final play against district rival St. Francis last Tuesday, Blue Wave coach Jeff Myers was not looking to get the ball in Van Turner's hands.</p><p>Down by one point with 26 seconds left in the game, P.K. Yonge needed only a layup, not a long-distance 3-point attempt from its best shooter, to win and pull even at 7-1 with the Wolves atop the District 3-3A standings.</p><p>However, as the Blue Wave's designed play fell apart and precious second ticked away, P.K. Yonge's players had a change in plan.</p><p>“When they get in trouble, they look for Van,” Myers said.</p><p>The quarterback of the Blue Wave's football team this season, Turner scored on the basketball equivalent of a Hail Mary pass with an NBA-range, 25-foot shot that sealed a 68-66 win against St. Francis.</p><p>Though Turner began his 21-point performance on a tear with three 3-pointers in the first quarter, he had to wait until the game's final seconds to make another attempt.</p><p>“He's a pure shooter and he never loses confidence,” Myers said. “He believes in himself every time. He thinks the next shot he shoots is going to go in no matter what.”</p><p>A day later, Turner's cool demeanor was tested in a 52-48 loss to Eastside. Guarded primarily by the Rams' Sir Jackson, who Myers described as one of the best athletes in the county, Turner was held to zero points on 0-for-7 shooting.</p><p>“He's also not going to force the issue,” Myers said. “He's going to find his teammates when they're open. … When we played Eastside we had a freshman lead us that game just because it was his time to step up. Van's not a jealous player.”</p><p>Turner also showed it's tough to keep a good shooter down for long. In P.K. Yonge's final game of the week on Friday, he responded from his cold-shooting night with a season-high 40 points in a 77-68 home win against Buchholz.</p><p>Along with his 9-of-13 shooting performance from the field, Turner bolstered his totals by nailing 17 of 19 attempts from the free-throw line.</p><p>“It's the same thing every game. Every team focuses on Van,” Myers said. </p><p>“He found ways to get open he scored in transition and he did the stuff you have to do to get open. He had a heck of a game.”</p><p><B>Basketball</B></p><p><B>JIMMIE TAYLOR III, SUWANNEE:</B> A senior shooting guard, Taylor posted a triple-double in the Bulldogs' 75-57 district win against Wakulla last Thursday with 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Two days later in a 59-51 loss to Columbia, he scored 24 points, hauled in 13 rebounds and also dished out 6 assists.</p><p></p><p><B>Wrestling</B></p><p><B>MYCKEL HUTCHINSON, BUCHHOLZ:</B> The sophomore 152-pounder won a city championship in his weight class last Friday with a pin against an Eastside wrestler in his final match. A day later, Hutchinson went 5-0 at the Bobcat Duals to help Buchholz claim its home meet.</p><p><B>Soccer</B></p><p><B>ARRIC WALI, SANTA FE:</B> In the Raiders' lone game of the week, Wali, a junior striker netted a hat trick to lead Santa Fe to a 4-1 win at Lafayette last Tuesday.</p><p><B>Weightlifting</B></p><p><B>JESSICA KINSLER, GAINESVILLE:</B> Competing in the 154-pound weight class, Kinsler won Saturday's Keystone Heights Invitational and helped the Hurricanes to a second place overall finish with a 400-pound total, including a 220-pound bench press and 180-pound clean and jerk, in the 15-team meet.</p><p><B>Honorable mention</p><p>Basketball</B></p><p><B>KEVARRIUS HAYES, SUWANNEE:</B> The sophomore center recorded a double-double against Wakulla last Thursday with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 9 blocks. In the Bulldogs' loss to Columbia on Saturday, Hayes had 6 points, 12 rebounds and swatted away 4 shots.</p><p><B>ED PORTER, HAWTHORNE:</B> Porter, a sophomore forward, scored 52 combined points in a pair of district wins last week against Trenton and Hilliard. He also compiled 19 rebounds and 9 blocks in the two games.</p><p><B>NICK CHISHOLM, HAWTHORNE:</B> A senior guard, Chisholm scored 26 points, fueled by 9 3-pointers, in two wins against Hilliard and Trenton last week. Chisholm also hauled in 12 rebounds to help Hawthorne finish undefeated in its district.</p><p><B>SHELBY STOKES, TRENTON:</B> The freshman point guard scored 68 points over a 3-game span last week. The Hornets won against Cedar Key and Chiefland before dropping a game to Hawthorne. Stokes also notched 12 assists, 12 rebounds and 6 steals during that stretch.</p><p><B>Wrestling</B></p><p><B>DEONTRAE NEAL, BUCHHOLZ:</B> A senior heavyweight, Neal claimed one of Bobcats' four individual titles at the city championship meet last Friday. Neal went 3-1 at the Bobcat Duals on Saturday, losing to a North Marion wrestler ranked No. 1 in the state.</p><p><B>Weightlifting</B></p><p><B>BREANNA THOMAS, GAINESVILLE:</B> The junior won the 169-pound division at the Keystone Heights Invitational on Saturday with a 175-pound bench press and a 160-pound clean and jerk for a 335-pound total.</p><p><i>Athletes of the week are determined by nominations from area coaches. Coaches are asked to call in (374-5050) every Sunday between 4-7 p.m.</i></p>